Many thanks to JKR for the characters, to Melynda for putting up with me, and to Allosia for understanding. Please forgive weirdness as I'm typing this all off the cuff right now.
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"nothing can stop me now, nothing can stop me now, nothing can stop me now..."
Fingers curled into the sheets, he stared into the dark. Another nightmare, Voldemort's voice echoing hollowly in his head. Even dreaming, Snape could not bring himself to scream. This knowledge existed beyond expression. He rocked a little, shifting and attempting to relax. Snape wondered if Voldemort would kill him or drive him insane before the teaching did.
It wouldn't be quite so vexing if the students showed more intelligence, and if he didn't have to ignore the vast stupidity rampant in his own House. When Dumbledore had offered him the position, Snape had taken it with a grim sense of satisfaction. Now it was simply depressing, to realize what generations of selective inbreeding accomplished. Snape enjoyed some of the more quick witted ones, though he didn't spare them from the caustic remarks or merciless scrutiny. He shook his head. Why couldn't it have been a nice research position instead?
Even blind, Snape's fingers could find the sigil on his forearm. All the answers lay here, in a choice made in calculated desperation. When every step a younger man had taken in faith betrayed him, it had seemed the most logical choice. Snape dragged his fingernails over the skin. If it were so easy, he thought bitterly.
Dawn arrived before sleep, and Snape debated whether he ought to get up and find that his broomstick. Damn that woman. He reached over to the shelf nearest the bed and snatched a small crystal globe. It was one of the odd gifts he received every Christmas from Albus, made to show the weather at any given time for the area.
"Hah, rain." Snape sighed with contentment and fell back onto the pillow. No need to get up then. He certainly didn't intend to fly in this weather. Though that madwoman Hooch might be out there anyway. Setting the globe back on the shelf, he drew the bedspread over his head and waited in the dark.
"Do you always sit up here?"
"Do you always follow me? Snape stared stonily at the sky as Hooch settled herself on the parapet. Perhaps if he kept methodically counting stars, she might not bother him...
"I thought you might still be sulking," she said. "You've been flapping around the school spreading terror. Three more hysterical students and Poppy will be after you."
"It's certainly not my fault they are brainless children," Snape snapped, drawing his robes close around himself. He noticed her stare. "Compare me to a bat, and I'll turn you into one. I've had quite enough of that from the Weasley twins this week."
"Ha. How about vulture then?" she grinned.
"Very fitting. Repulsive death eaters, aren't they?" he sneered.
"Oh stop it Severus." She sighed and ran a hand through her silvered spikes.
"Stop what?" Damn it, the woman infuriated him.
"That was hardly up to your usual standards." Point again. She was in the lead. His fingers twitched in his pocket.
"And don't even think of pulling out that wand." That earned a wry laugh.
"Ah yes, the benefits of teaching," Snape sighed. "The ability to spot mischief before it even begins."
"I just know how you think," she smiled.
"I don't think so." Hooch smiled again, in a way that made Snape want to strangle her. The eyed each other for a long moment before the rain started up again, mist shading into fat, freezing drops.
"You should go inside, wouldn't want to muss your hair," Snape hissed, drawing the hood of his cloak up.
"And you'll stand here in the rain til you're sure I'm gone." She shook her head, water already dripping down her forehead. "No. The students ought to be asleep by now, I'm sure they won't notice us walking together. Unless you're afraid of compromising your reputation?"
His lip curled slightly before Snape mastered his expression. With a silent, mocking nod he turned on his heel and strode under the archway. Hooch shook water from her eyes and mouthed, "Point Severus."